Open AccessAn Examination Of Ethiopia’s Anti -Terrorism Proclamation On Fundamental Human Rights
Author(s) -
Peter Sekyere,
Bossman E. Asare
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
european scientific journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1857-7881
pISSN - 1857-7431
DOI - 10.19044/esj.2016.v12n1p351
Subject(s) - proclamation , human rights , law , freedom of thought , political dissent , terrorism , political science , democracy , fundamental rights , jurisdiction , politics , constitution , conviction , imprisonment
Since the enactment of Ethiopia’s Proclamation on Anti-Terrorism in August 2009, at least11 journalists have been convicted, each sentenced to at least 10 years imprisonment. There are concerns that the proclamation limits the right to freedom of thought, opinion and expression, provided for in Ethiopia’s Constitution. Through the lens of the right to freedom of thought, opinion and expression, the paper argues that Ethiopia’s Anti-Terrorism Proclamation violates the human rights of people within its jurisdiction. It finds that there is a real potential for the state to crack down on political dissent in governance and curtail the growth of democracy in Ethiopia.